Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or the song "The way I loved you".
"Oh my god... Oh my god you guys!"
It seemed like half of the boarding school was in my dorm room... and had been for the past four hours. They were on the look out, waiting for my roommate, Kim, to return from her date with Andrew.
Which she was now.
"Omigod you guys!" squealed Amber again, her face pressed against the window. "Here they come!" The mass of girls that had been lounging about for the entire evening leapt to their feet and raced to the window, craning their necks to get a good view of what was looking to be a goodnight kiss.
I opted to remain in the safe haven that was my top bunk, calmly pulling another cinnamon bagel out of the bag that I had been working through most of the night.
Sighing heavily, I took a bite of my eighth bagel of the evening and observed the commotion below; it had certainly been a waste of a Saturday.
It started in the morning, with Kim trying on everything in her closet to model for the girls in the dorm, deciding what to wear for her date with Andrew. "I want it to be perfect!" she kept saying, hopping up and down anxiously. After going through the entirety of her closet, Tammy's closet, Sarah's closet, Brenna's closet, Cecilia's closet, and my closet, she finally settled on a blue dress of mine to wear. Finally.
I thought that the fiasco would stop there, but no. The afternoon was spent bleaching teeth, painting nails, applying makeup, plucking eyebrows, shaving... everywhere, accessorizing, curling hair, then straightening it, re-curling it, washing it, and then leaving it wavy. Then, after dumping perfume on Kim, the girls shoved her out the door and had been waiting on pins and needles ever since.
All throughout this I was binge eating and watching season three of the Big Bang Theory on Netflix, snuggled into Percy's sweatshirt in the top bunk.
Good gods, this date was the biggest racket I'd ever laid eyes on, and I'm a demigod; I've seen a lot of decent sized rackets. But going to all all girls school resulted in colossal disarray anytime a boy was involved. They nearly killed me when they found out about Percy, but had learned not to ask questions.
"Ohhh, what's happening?" Snapping back into reality, I inspected my bagel while they all chattered animatedly.
"Oh, Andrew just opened up the car door for her!"
"Aww!"
This bagel would really be good with cream cheese.
"Oh, he's saying something, shh..."
They all hushed, leaning into what he was saying.
"...aww! He said she looked beautiful tonight!"
"Aww!"
Cream cheese would really maximize this bagel's potential. But it was all the way in the fridge... I could live without it.
"Ugh! No goodnight kiss." They all groaned.
No, I couldn't live without it. I must have cream cheese.
"Well, Kims on her way up now, so we can ask her all about tonight!" They all grinned enthusiastically, eyeing the door.
Nope. The fridge was just too far. I would settle for mediocrity.
"Oh my god you guys!" Kim burst into the room, practically glowing. "Tonight was... amazing!"
"Oh my god, Kim, tell us all about it!"
"Yeah! What's he like?"
"Ugh, I am sooo jealous-"
"Where did you go?"
"His car is so nice-"
"Annabeth!" called a girl named Laura, eyes shining with excitement. "Do you want to come down and talk with us?"
"No thanks," I said, smiling. "You girls have fun."
"Annabeth," pouted Kim, "Don't you want to hear about Andrew?"
"Maybe later Kimmy," I said. "I'm waiting for a call from Percy... you know how he is."
Kim nodded; she had endured many a rant of mine regarding Percy's inability to make a punctual phone call.
"Okay," she said with a sympathetic smile, turning to the throng of girls before her.
"Hey, Kim?" I called as a but if an afterthought.
"Yeah?"
I smiled sweetly at her. "Could you please pass me the cream cheese?"
Kim grinned. "Annabeth, are we on a bagel binge again?"
"Yup," I said, happily catching the tub of cream cheese that Kim tossed from the fridge.
"So," said a girl named Kari, who looked like she was going to pass out from excitement. "Tell us all about it!"
"Oh my god you guys," swooned Kim.
I swear, if one more person said "Ohmigod You Guys" I was going to check and make sure I was still in a Stanton Academy dorm instead of the Delta NU Sorority house.
"He is sensible, and so incredible!" Kim gushed, her voice husky with excitement. "Like, I seriously couldn't ask for anything better."
"Oh!" The girls all sighed collectively, wistful looks on their faces.
"And he respects my space, you know? He's not distant- but he didn't have his hands all over me or anything. And Andrew never makes me wait..."
Well, that must be refreshing to have a boyfriend who doesn't keep you waiting... and waiting...
"He's just so charming and endearing!" sighed Kim, a dreamy, far off look in her eyes. They fell into silence, each girl thinking her own thoughts about love and romance.
I enjoyed the quiet and took a very unlady-like bite of my bagel.
The sliver of silence was broken by a high pitched ring screeching throughout the room.
"Sorry," I said apologetically, grabbing my cell phone. "Hello?" The girls returned to their Andrew analysis as I swallowed and prepared to hardcore lecture a certain kelp head.
"Hey, babe," said Percy cheerfully, his voice making me smile despite the fact I was throughly irritated with him.
"Hey, Seaweed Brain," I sighed. "Where have you been the past hour and forty minutes?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, and I could practically see his eyebrows scrunching together in confusion.
"I mean, you said where going to call me at-"
"Oh!" said Percy. "I'm sorry, Annabeth, it completely slipped my mind, it won't happen again."
"That's what you said last time."
"I know, I know," he said. "Next time, I promise I won't screw it up."
"You also said that last time," I pointed out cynically.
"Okay, well, what do you want me to tell you, Annabeth?" snapped Percy, suddenly irritated. "All you do is complain, no matter what I say! Damned if I do, damned if I don't!"
"That is not true!" I objected sharply, causing several heads to turn in my direction. "I was just pointing out that you keep promising to call on time, but you never do."
"You're nagging! All the time, you nag me!" Percy's voice was rising now, clearly offended.
"I'm not nagging!" I said through gritted teeth. "I. Am. Proving. A. Point!"
"Well, it's a ridiculous point," snorted Percy.
"Well, you're a ridiculous boyfriend!"
"Well, you're a ridiculous girlfriend!"
"Oh, good come back, Percy. Real original," I said with flourish. Now every girl had her eyes glued on me, ears straining to hear any morsel of what Percy might be saying on the other side.
"Okay, like it really matters what my retort was. That's not what the issue is here." Damn him for being right. "You need to calm down and quit over reacting!" shouted Percy.
"Well you need to care more!" I hissed angrily, trying to attract the least amount of attention from the cluster of girls, though I knew I had already entirely captivated their attention.
"You need to stop acting so selfish!" Percy snarled.
"You need to keep your word!"
"You're acting like I've violated some sacred oath or something! This isn't that big of a deal!"
"Not to you!" I cried, abandoning all attempts at discretion. "But to me it is! How can I trust you with big things if I can't even rely on you for the little stuff?"
"Are you seriously pulling the trust card?"
"Quit treating this like a game!"
"Quit being dramatic! If I wanted a drama queen as a girlfriend I'd have dated an Aphrodite girl!"
"Well, maybe you should've!" I snapped.
"Whatever," Percy muttered. I heard the muffled sound of Sally calling Percy from the other end of the line.
"I have to go," sighed Percy. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"What time?" I asked sarcastically.
"Haha, very funny," he said humorlessly. "I'll call you at eight."
"I doubt it," I said.
"Fuck you, Annabeth."
"With the way you've been acting, I doubt that as well."
Percy slammed down the receiver.
Throwing my phone carelessly onto my be spread, I groaned loudly before face planting into my pillow. When I finally raised my head, I was surprised to see that the group of girls had migrated to in front of my bunk, Kim as their ringleader.
"Sooo," she said, evil grin evident on her face. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Ugh, nothing," I said, waving a hand.
"Yeah, right," said Kim. "Out with it!"
"Don't you have to go talk about Andrew?" I asked wearily, hoping to use her love life as a scapegoat.
But Kim just shook her head. "Oh, no," she said coyly. "Everyone knows that the only thing more interesting than a fantastic first date is a couple in a fight!" Each girl nodded her head vigorously in agreement. I looked into their eager faces, their pleading eyes, their puppy dog expressions.
These girls were boy obsessed.
"Sorry, no thanks. I'll keep my problems to myself, thanks," I said, moving my bag of bagels out of the way so I could lay down with my back turned to the mob.
"It might make you feel better... you know, get your emotions out," called Kim in a song song voice. I froze; this was true. I needed a vent, and here one was, volunteering itself.
No. I wasn't that mad at Percy to go rant about him to my nosey roommates...
Oh, who was I kidding? I was totally that mad.
"Fine," I moaned, rolling over once more to face the girls, who looked over the moon excited to be getting information about the mysterious boyfriend that I rarely divulged information about.
"But don't expect this to be a regular thing," I grumbled. Pulling myself up, I sat criss-cross-apple sauce on my top bunk, looking down at the group of girls like a queen looks down on her subjects. Each one of them was quivering with excitement, looking like they could hardly believe their luck.
These girls needed lives. This was pathetic.
"There's really not much to tell," I said, propping my elbows on the edge of my bunk. "He just never calls on time, and I just commented on it and he got offended. It just got blown out of proportion a little bit."
"And you feel like he doesn't care?" asked Kim, nodding her head sympathetically.
"Uh, yeah, I guess," I said slowly, just realizing this emotion.
"And you feel like he doesn't value your relationship as much as you do?" suggested Lily.
"Yeah, he doesn't!" I said, more confident this time.
"And that he doesn't appreciate you?"
"Exactly."
"And he takes you for granted?"
"Yes!"
"And you should be treated like a princess?"
"Defiantly!"
"And this whole long distance thing isn't working?"
"Yeah!"
"And you're going to break up with him?"
"Yeah! Wait, no," I said frowning. "No, I'm not breaking up with him."
"Well, why not?" scoffed Kim. "He obviously doesn't treat you like he should."
"No, he does! He's just is... Forgetful."
"Forgetful?" asked a girl doubtfully. "Please. Pretty soon he'll 'forget' he has a girl friend on the other side of the country, and then where will you be?"
"What?" I spluttered, affronted. "Look, I know you know virtually nothing about Percy besides my mini-rant, but really, he's a sweet guy."
"Doesn't sound sweet to me," said Kim skeptically.
"Really, he is. He just has seaweed for a brain."
"Look, Annabeth, you've been dating this kid for over two years," said Kim in a maternal voice. "I think that you've convinced yourself that you need him."
"No," I said, rolling my eyes. "Trust me, he's the one that needs me."
"Honey, you're just making up excuses for him! Annabeth, you are a strong independent woman! And you are not going to put up with Percy any longer!" declared Kim, marching up to my bunk and grabbing my cell phone. "In fact," she said, "you're going to call him right now... And break up with him!"
"Yeah!" cheered the girls in unison.
"No!" I said, snatching my phone away from Kim.
"Honey, we'll help you through this," said Kim soothingly.
"I don't need help," l said, exasperated. "See, this is why I don't tell you people anything about my relationship. I say two words and you all descend into madness."
"But-"
"Just listen," I said, and everyone sat down quietly. "Look," I said. "I don't know how to put this, but Percy and my relationship isn't all puppy's and rainbows and ice cream sundaes. And I don't want it to be," I said hastily, see Kim open her mouth. "I don't want it to be perfect. It takes the fun out of it, you know?"
The looks on all of their faces told me that they didn't know.
"Okay, well, a cookie cutter, picture perfect relationship is just so... detached," I said, struggling to find the words. "I mean, Percy and I are literally screaming and fighting one minute, and kissing in the rain the next... it's complicated. But just when you find that one right person, everything is on fire. Each emotion is more intense; when you're happy, you're literally over the moon, and when your sad, everything is awful. It's a roller coaster kind of rush." Each girl drank in my words, eyes wide. "I mean, you're breaking down and coming undone and acting downright insane, and you don't even care! Because you have him. And he is so wild and crazy and frustrating. Most of all, he's intoxicating, you're literally drunk from being with him. And the best part is," I said, pausing for effect, "is that he feels exactly the same way."
"But... being with someone like Andrew is so comfortable..." said Kim, still unconvinced.
"Comfortable is fine," I said, shrugging. "But with Percy... everything burns too bright. The works spins too fast. It's scary," I said, "but I like it. And you know what? When you get that feeling, that you're scared but that you aren't afraid to be scared? That's when you know you're in love."
These girls were dumbfounded, completely startled by this raw kind of love that they had never heard of. They knew only of fairy tales and happy endings and neat, tidy relationships that were meaningless. They did not know what it meant to be ridiculously in love, to survive off another persons existence. My schoolmates were unaware of the blurred lines and the late nights and the little notes and the heart beats, beating for each other.
"Don't worry," I said. "One day, when you're out of Stanton and into the real world, you'll find someone like that. And then you'll know." I smiled at them and punched my pillow into shape, laying down to signal the end of the conversation.
Eventually the girls all filtered out, saying goodnight. After bidding Kim a goodnight, I stared at the ceiling and fiddled with the strings on Percy's sweatshirt. My little speech had surprised even me; I hadn't really thought of our relationship in those terms before.
I traced Percy's last name embroidered on the sleeve of the sweater, letting my finger run over the smooth letters. I felt guilty for our fight. And what a stupid fight too!
Rolling over, I saw the glowing letters of Kim's clock flash 2 AM across the room. Cursing, I dragged myself out of bed and over to the window. Yanking it open, I let the warm may air wash over my face as I leaned out and pulled myself into the roof. I scaled it, up the the peak where tiles fell loose if you put too much weight on them. I had always loved the building in which the dorms were housed; it looked out of place in California, seeming as though it had been picked up from New England and thrown over here. It was very simple and traditional architecture, signature American design. Leaning up against one of the big stone chimneys, I pulled out my phone and let the blue light cast a glow upon my hands as I gazed up at the stars. It was nice to know that Percy was under the same stars as I was.
I hit speed dial, feeling bad about waking him up, but my instincts told me he wouldn't mind.
I had to tell him the way I loved him.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE EASE REVIEW!
Criticism more than welcome, comments loved, suggestions valued!
ALSO: Nico needs a lady. Should I write him a new one, have him be with Rachel...? What are your thoughts? Let me know!